20 Fun Advent Calendars to Enjoy This December

While this wooden advent calendar is less about treats, it makes up for it in spades with its gorgeous design. It’s handcrafted and hand painted, and each day you can illuminate the next number on the adorable scene. Fans of this pick can’t get enough of how cute it is in their home, and one reviewer even claims, “My family argues about who gets to ‘light’ it each day.” We all know that’s a sign of a good purchase! 

For unique advent calendars that the whole family can enjoy, try one of the many puzzle or game options that have become popular in recent years. This adventure-themed version works for one to six players and takes place over 24 “episodes.”

If you’re not big on giving the littles ones sweets every day, then this educational advent calendar for kids may be right up your alley. Each window reveals a special rock, mineral, fossil or gemstone. Reviewers love it, mentioning that it’s fun for all ages and how special it is to learn together as a family.

Got a puzzle lover in your house? These festive and fun advent calendars are what they need this season. They come with 24 gorgeous mini puzzles that are basically works of art. They’ll certainly stay busy heading into the holidays!

This is the ultimate food advent calendar! All the iconic Harry & David snacks are included: pears, popcorn, summer sausage, relish, mixed nuts… the list goes on! It’s a delicious and fun way to count down the December days.

This winter wonderland advent calendar for kids is just adorable! Every day they’ll unwrap and build another component of this snowy scene, which includes cute cabins, ice rinks, a battery-powered sledding hill, and more. It’s also an excellent way to get them thinking, since they assemble everything.

Anyone with a sweet tooth will be thrilled with these fun advent calendars full of chocolate. They include a pound of See’s famous treats like peppermint krispys, scotchmallows, butterscotch squares, and more. Plus, the whole box is fashioned to look like the most charming home decorated for the holidays, ensuring it will only enhance your festive decor.

This is the perfect gift for someone who spends all their free time in a cozy reading nook—especially if that someone is yourself. In addition to new reads, these fun advent calendars come with bookworm-inspired gifts like mugs, tea, candles, book sleeves, bookmarks, and more. It’s also very customizable: Choose between three time frames—7, 14, or 25 days—and whether you want new or gently used books (for a more affordable and eco-friendly option). The seller also lets you share a preferred genre as well as a Goodreads or Storygraph profile to ensure the books included haven’t been enjoyed yet.

Advent calendars for adults who love to cook aren’t hard to come by, but this one stands out for its versatility. Behind each door is a 1.75-ounce hot sauce that ranges from sweet to savory and mild to hot. Just make sure to save some for Santa—we have a feeling he’ll appreciate spicing it up this year and taking a break from all those cookies.

Need ideas for advent calendars for teens that they won’t think are boring? Have a favorite coworker or family member you’d like to treat? The answer is almost always candy. It’s a safe bet and a fun surprise for whoever you might be shopping for this year. (Plus, it’s one of the four main food groups, as Buddy the Elf would say.)

Let a furry friend in on the advent calendar fun with this gift set that includes 24 all-natural treats in cheese, bacon, chicken, and peanut butter flavors.

The best advent calendars for kids are ones that you can secretly (or not-so secretly) enjoy, too. Fun Little Toys makes this “countdown calendar” with 24 fidget toys that are great entertainment for all. “This was such a fun thing for my tween,” says one happy customer. “She was so excited to get something different every day, and she loves fidgets. Wasn’t too expensive and good quality. Would definitely buy again.”

You can enter a winter wonderland every day with this cozy cabin advent calendar. The doors, windows, and drawers all open to reveal a cute surprise that fits the woodland theme. Just note that the figurines are not removable—instead, this is a keepsake decoration meant to last many Christmases to come.

While there are a ton of beauty advent calendars you can buy, not all are as universally appealing as these moisturizing Burt’s Bees lip balms in festive flavors like Vanilla Maple, Cranberry Spritz, and Salted Caramel. Made with responsibly sourced beeswax and formulated with all clean ingredients, this holiday gift set is perfect for that person in your life who seems to have everything.

Another cool advent calendar idea? Gourmet treats, of course. Panna cotta truffle, fig and melon jam, thyme olive oil, and pistachio pesto—all made in France, Italy, Morocco, or Portugal—are just some of the delicious things included in this gift set.

For a more sustainable option, try a reusable fun advent calendar like this one. It’s made from cotton and is available both blank and personalized. One benefit is that you can fill it with whatever goodies you want, like little toys, notes, candies, and more. The shop as over 2,000 rave reviews, too!

When the weather outside is frightful, there is something so magical about snuggling under a blanket with a seasonal candle lit nearby. There are 25 that come in this set, which means it’ll last all of December (and then some). A few of the holiday fragrances included are Holly and Pine, Vanilla Brown Sugar, and Apple Strudel.

Several Amazon reviewers like this red-and-white reusable advent calendar because the drawers are slightly bigger than most. “I was able to fit entire mini Funko mystery boxes in the biggest drawers,” says one customer. “I had gotten enamel pins for the small drawers but ended up putting in multiple because there was so much room. We are keeping the box and Styrofoam so we can keep it safe for years to come. The kid is loving it so much.”

You’ll get 25 days of entertainment for the whole family with this DIY ornament calendar. Each day comes with a different craft, none of which require any sewing or glue. Even better? Bonus games, including a holiday word search, are included for even more family-friendly activities.